The phi na is a malevolent ball of sentient water that floats under and above the surfaces of lakes, lagoons, and ponds. When animals (or humanoids) come close to the surface, the phi na swims up to its prey and engulfs the creature’s head (or entire body, if it’s small enough), and attempts to drown it.
It’s not known why the phi na do this since they do not seem to gain anything from killing a living creature. Perhaps they simply enjoy ending life.
Phi Na
Small elemental, chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 14 (4d6)
Speed 0 ft., swim 60 ft., fly 15 ft. (hover)
Abilities Str 7 (-2), Dex 13 (+1), Con 10 (+0), Int 5 (-3), Wis 10 (+0), Cha 8 (-1)
Damage Resistances acid; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, unconscious
Senses blindsight 10 ft., darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Aquan
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Damage Transfer. While engulfing a creature, the phi na takes only half the damage dealt to it (rounded down), and that creature takes the other half.
Invisible in Water. The phi na is invisible while fully immersed in water.
Actions
Engulf. The phi na moves up to its speed. While doing so, it can enter a Large or smaller creature’s space. Whenever the phi na enters a creature’s space, the creature must make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw. On a successful save, the phi na is pushed 5 feet back or to the side of the target. On a failed save, the phi na enters the creature’s space, and the creature takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage, takes one level of exhaustion, and is engulfed. The engulfed creature can’t breathe unless it can breathe water and takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage at the start of each of the phi na’s turns. If the target is Large, Medium, or Small, the phi na can’t move while it is engulfing the creature, and if the creature moves, the phi na moves with it. If the engulfed creature is Tiny, the creature is restrained, and when the phi na moves the engulfed creature moves with it. An engulfed creature can try to escape by taking an action to make a DC 11 Strength check. On a success, the creature escapes and the phi na is pushed to a space within 5 feet of the creature if its size is Large, Medium, or Small, or the engulfed creature enters a space of its choice within 5 feet of the phi na if its size is Tiny.
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The phi na will be included as a Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition entry in a new book I’m working on for DMsguild.com titled, simply, CR 1/8.
It will be available for free download and reading until the book is published (probably by the end of this week).
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